Collapsible container



1952 e. 0. KING, JR., ETAL 3,06

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed April 23, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mun/marGEORGE 0. KING .m. 37 LE: no.

AGENT Dec. 18, 1962 a. 0. KING, JR, El'AL 3,069,063

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed April 23, 19 62 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG,6

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United States Patent Ofitice 3,069,063 Patented Dec. 18, 1962 3,069,063COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Genrge 0. King, Jr., and Lee J. Ross, Atlanta,Ga., assigners to Crown Zellerbach Corporation, San Francisco, Calii, acorporation of Nevada Filed Apr. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 189,623 ill Claims.{(1. 229-41) This invention relates to improvements in collapsible toteboxes and more particularly to such cartons formed from a foldable blankof material and having reinforced side walls which provide veryadvantageous stacking qualities and added cushioning and protection forthe contents of the container.

One of the important features of the invention is the provision of ablank of material so cut and scored as to be adaptable to form a cartonwhich may be readily erected from a collapsed condition by the mereexertion of pressure on the opposed corner folds of the collapsedcarton. Another object is to provide a carton with a locking bottomwhich positively and automatically becomes locked in bottom closurecondition upon erection of the container walls to tubular form. Afurther object is to provide a carton with an automatic locking bottomwith reinforced Wall construction so as to provide a margin of safety inthe storage and handling of the containers filled with heavy or fragilearticles. Still another object is to provide a carton of the describedcharacter which may be reused repeatedly and may be collapsed orre-erected without complicated manipulation of the container parts orthe use of any extraneous equipment or materials.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be readilyapparent from the description to follow. The invention resides in theconstruction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointedout in the claims hereto appended, it being understood that variouschanges in the form, proportions and minor details of construction,within the scope of the claims, may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

in the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a carton blank embodying the invention;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are perspective views of progressive stages of theerection of the carton;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the carton fully erected;

FIGURE 5 is a view of a transverse section through line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse view through line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

The blank 20 from which the carton is formed is shown in FIGURE 1 and isdescribed in terms equally applicable to the erected carton. In theblank 2% the vertical end wall panels 21-22 are foldably connected inalternating relation to the side wall panels 23 and 24, the foldconnections are determined by corner scores 25-27. Said vertical wallpanels are further defined by a bottom edge 28 and a top edge determinedby edge score 29, a free side edge of the blank is denoted at 3b whichfurther defines a side edge of wall panel 24. The outer side edge of endwall panel 21 is determined by corner score 31 which serves as the hingeconnection of the securing tab 32, Inner side and end Wall panels 33-36are foldably connected to the side and end wall panels 21-24 by the topedge score 29 and are further defined by a bottom edge 37 and free sideedges 38. Said inner wall panels 33-36 are separated by corner scores39.

For convenience in handling, suitable handholes 40 may be provided inthe end wall panels 21 and 22 and registering handholes provided in theinner panels 33 and 35. The handholes may be provided with hinge tabs'42 as shown in the inner end wall panels 33 and 35 for purposes ofreinforcement and convenience in handling.

The self-locking bottom portion of the blank and attendant side wallreinforcing panels are attached to the above described vertical wallforming portions of the blank along the bottom edge 28 and moreparticularly by the side wall 23 bottom score 45 and end wall 22 bottomscore 46.

A first section 47 of the bottom forming portion of the blank isfoldably connected to side wall 23 and is divided by end score 48, inalignment with corner score 27, to determine an inner end wallreinforcement panel 49 and bottom closure panel 50. The diagonal told 52.is disposed to bisect the angle formed by bottom score 45 and end score48 and divides the bottom closure panel 50 into side portion 51 and endportion 58. The diagonal told 52 is adapted to effect collapsing of thebottom panel 50 as will be hereinafter described. The side bottomclosure panel 56 is further determined by a free ledge 53 which includesa diagonal portion 54 which may be conveniently disposed to bisect theangle formed by bottom score 45 and a projection of corner score 26. Thediagonal portion 54 of the free edge is interrupted by the locking edge55 which is disposed transversely of the length of the container at itsmid-length and extends to a junction with the line of the foldconnection 52.

A second section 48 of the bottom forming portion of the blank isfoldably connected to end wall 22 and is similar to the beforementionedsection 47 except that the side and end portions 51 and 58 ofthe bottomclosure panel 5d are in transposed position with the end bottom closurepanel 53 hingedly connected to the vertical wall forming portions of theblank by the end wall bottom score 46, said section also including areinforcement panel 56, which, in the erected condition of the blank isdisposed between the inner and outer wall panels 2436 and thusconstitutes a side wall reinforcement panel.

The container is erected, as shown in FlGURE 2, by infolding the innerwall panels 3336 over their respective end wall and side wall panels21-24 about the top edge score 29 so that the inner wall panel bottomedge 37 is disposed at or adjacent the wall panel bottom edge 28. Theoutermost panels 33 and 36 are infolded in right angular relation to therespective adjacent wall panels and simultaneously the bottom closuresections 47 and 48 are iolded from the normal plane of the blank and thereinforcing panels 49 and 56 are inserted intervening the wall panel andinner wall panel on an end and side of the container respectively. Thefolding is then continued, as shown in FIGURE 3, until the extremities57 of the end bottom closure panels 58 are disposed overlapping theopposed side bottom closure panels 51 and with the locking edges 55 inedgewise abutting relation; Thus the portions 51 of the bottom closurepanels 5t? intervening the diagonal free edge portion 54 and the foldconnections 4-5 and 48 to the vertical walls underlie the other bottomclosure panel 50 in each case and there is attained a locking engagementof these bottom panels 50 with the beforementioned portions andextremities extending in part interiorly and in part exteriorly of theclosure panels and intervening said overlapping portions are the lockingedges 55 in edgewise abutting relation.

As bcforementioned the inner wall panels 3336 are infolded in flatwiserelation to their respective vertical wall panels 2124 and it isdesirable in order to accommodate these inner wall panels 33-436 to theinterior dimensions of the outer vertical wall panels to provide themwith special corner scores or connections 39 which will relieve thetension on the outer wall panel corner scores -27 and 31.. As shown inFIGURE 1, the inner wall panel corner scores 3Q are preferably formedwith parallel spaced apart score lines to provide a greater width offlexibility. Alternatively, the entire area defined between the parallelscores may be depressed or mashed, when the carton is constructed ofcorrugated fiberboard to attain the desired area of fiexure. In asimilar manner, the outer side and end walls 2124 are in spaced relationto the inner Wall panels 3336 as determined by the double top edge score29 in order to accommodate the intervening vertical wall reinforcementpanels 49 and 56.

The fully erected container is shown in FIGURE 4 wherein the securingtab 32 is secured to the opposed free marginal edge 36 of the blank 2%by staples or other well known means. Preferably the staples are driventhrough the securing tab 32, marginal edge and the underlying portionsof inner wall panel 36 and reinforcing panel 56. However, if the sidewall reinforcing panel 56 is constructed to substantially conform toside wall panel 24, the foldably connected bottom closure panel 5% maybe adequately supported for most uses of the container without thereinforcing panel 56 being fixably secured to the side wall panel 24 orinner panel 36.

FIGURE 5 shows a cross sectional view through line 5- of FIGURE 4. Thisview more particularly shows the disposition of side wall reinforcingpanel 56 disposed intervening vertical side panel 24 and inner sidepanel 36; and end wall reinforcing panel 4% intervening vertical endWall 21 and inner end wall 33. Thus the opposed pair of end wall andside wall, 22 and 23 respec tively, and their attendant inner panels3435 are of two ply construction. It is to be noted that said two plywalls are integrally, foldably connected to the bottom sections 47 and48 by bottom scores 46 and the three ply walls are connected to thesebottom sections by the fold connection 48 to the reinforcing panels 49and 56, as best shown in FIGURE 2.

FEIUURE 6 is a cross sectional view through line 66 of FIGURE 5. Thisview shows, for example, a three ply wall construction includingvertical wall panel 24, reinforcing panel 56 and inner side Wall panel36. The reinforcing panel 56 is connected to the side wall portion 51 ofbottom closure by the hinged connection defined by end score 43. Theview further shows the overlapping portion 57 of the opposed bottomclosure panel 50.

The container is simply and instantaneously collapsible to a flattenedcondition for shipment and storage by inwardly deflecting the bottomclosure panels while exert ing slight pressure on the opposed cornerscores 26 and 31 until the vertical wall panels are in fiatwisesubstantially parallel relationship to each other with the bottomclosure panels 50 infolded therebetween about the collapsing scores 52.Since the bottom closure panels are free of any permanent engagementsuch as stitches, adhesive or other extraneous securing means and arealso free of any inner locking engagement which would require specialmanipulation to disengage these container parts, the bottom closurepanels 56 are free to fold inwardly of the container walls independentlyof each other and into a spaced apart disposition in the collapsedcontainer.

While the container is described in accordance with one commercialembodiment which is an open top tote box, it is readily apparent thatfor many uses a top closure may be desired and this closure may be ofany suitable type adapted to use with the container as for example atelescoping inverted tray like cover member.

It is to be understood that the particular embodiment of the inventiondescribed is illustrative and not restrictive. The invention may besusceptible of embodiment til in other modified forms; all suchmodifications which are similar or equivalent hereto come equally withinthe scope of the claims next appearing.

What we claim is:

1. A collapsible carton having vertical side and end walls hingedlyconnected at the side edges thereof and a bottom closure which isautomatically erectable upon folding the carton vertical wall to tubularrelation, said bottom closure comprising a first section and a secondsection with the first section foldably connected to the bottom edge ofone vertical side wall and the second section foldably connected to thebottom edge of one end wall panel, each of such sections including abottom closure panel with portions in overlapping relation to the othersection bottom closure panel and a locking edge in edgewise abutmentwith the other closure panel locking edge, the overlapping portions ofeach closure panel extending in part interiorly and in part exteriorlyof the other closure panel, collapsing scores in each bottom closurepanel extending from the locking edge to one pair of diagonally oppositecorners of the carton, said collapsing scores disposed in bisectingrelation to the respective carton corners, the closure panels adapted tofolding independently inwardly of the carton about the collapsingscores.

2. The collapsible carton of claim 1 wherein the vertical walls arecomprised of substantially counterpart inner and outer panels, verticalwall reinforcing panels hingedly connected to each of said bottomclosure sections, and the reinforcing panel joined to the first sectiondisposed intervening an end wall inner and outer panels and thereinforcing panel joined to the second section disposed intervening aside wall inner and outer panels.

3. The collapsible carton of claim 2 wherein the inner and outervertical wall panels are hingedly connected at their top marginal edgesproviding a reinforced collapsible carton of unitary construction.

4. The collapsible carton of claim 3 wherein the inner wall panels arehingedly joined at their side edges, the hinge connections disposed inaligned relation with the hinge connections of the outer panels and of awidth sufficient to provide flexible side margins so that said innerpanels are adapted to disposition within the connected together outerwall panels.

5. The collapsible carton of claim 1 wherein the bottom closure panelsare each defined in part by free edges, said free edges extending fromthe respective locking edges to each of a second pair of diagonallyopposite corners, the locking edges disposed transversely of thecontainer bottom closure at the mid-length thereof and extending fromthe respective collapsing scores to the said free edges.

6. A collapsible rectangular carton having vertical side and end wallshingedly connected by corner scores and a bottom closure which isautomatically erectable upon folding the Walls to tubular relation, thebottom closure comprising a first section and a second section with eachsuch section integrally foldably connected to the bottom edge of one ofan adjacent pair of side and end walls with the opposite adjacent pairof side and end walls having a free bottom edge, the sections eachincluding a vertical wall reinforcing flap disposed in fiatwise relationto the other adjacent pair of side and end walls, the sections eachincluding bottom closure panels with portions in overlapping relation tothe other section bottom closure panel and a locking edge in edgewiseabutment with the other closure panel locking edge, the overlappingportions of each closure panel extending in part interiorly and in partexteriorly of the other closure panel, collapsing scores in each bottomclosure panel extending from the locking edge to one pair of diagonallyopposite corners of the carton, said collapsing scores disposed inbisecting relation to the respective carton corners, the bottom closurepanels adapted to relative movement one from another upon collapsing ofthe carton.

7. The collapsible carton of claim 6 wherein the vertical walls arecomprised of substantially counterpart inner and outer panels and thevertical wall reinforcing panels being disposed intervening the innerand outer panels of the opposite adjacent pair of side and end wallshaving a free bottom edge.

8. The collapsible carton of claim 7 wherein the inner and outervertical wall panels are hingedly connected at their top marginal edgesproviding a reinforced collapsible carton of unitary construction.

9. The collapsible carton of claim 8 wherein the inner wall panels arehingedly joined at their side edges, the hinge connections disposed inaligned relation with the hinge connections of the outer panels and of awidth suflicient to provide flexible side margins so that said 152,879,934

inner panels are adapted to disposition within the connected togetherouter wall panels.

10. The collapsible carton of claim 6 wherein the bottom closure panelsare each defined in part by free edges, said free edges extending fromthe respective locking edges to each of a second pair of diagonallyopposite corners, the locking edges disposed transversely of thecontainer bottom closure at the mid-length thereof and extending fromthe respective collapsing scores to the 10 said free edges.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS FlynnMar. 31, 1959

